South Florida Shaken By Anti-Semitic Vandalism,Shelley Benveniste

MIAMI BEACH - Four separate acts of anti-Semitic vandalism recently occurred in the Jewish community of South Florida. Two synagogues, Young Israel of Greater Miami and Congregation Shaaray Tefilah, and two stores, Kosher World and Judaic Enterprises, were spray-painted with hate-filled graffiti.

All the vandalism sites are located within a few blocks of each other in the city of North Miami Beach in a neighborhood that is home to approximately 800 Orthodox families.

The incidents occurred Sunday morning, July 30. The buildings all had "KKK" and swastikas spray-painted on their walls with red paint. The synagogues had an additional message: "UR NEXT."

The vandals, if convicted, could face third-degree felony charges under Florida's House of Worship Protection Act. Additionally, Florida's Hate Crimes Act reclassifies specific offenses, making hate-related violations a third-degree felony.

Tension among Jews worldwide has risen as a result of the current clash between Israel and Hizbullah. Last Friday's shooting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, which left one woman dead and five other people wounded, has further exacerbated the tension. The alleged perpetrator of this crime was a Muslim man who was reported to have fired a gun into the facility.

Local authorities do not necessarily connect the recent event in North Miami Beach with Israel's present warfare. This is not the first time that anti-Semitic episodes have occurred in the area; Anti-Defamation League statistics show that hate crimes involving Jews are on the increase.

Rabbi Pinchas Weberman, spiritual leader of Ahavat Yisroel Congregation in Miami Beach and liaison between the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Jewish community in South Florida, concurs. "North Miami Beach has a diverse population. Unfortunately, there is a criminal element eager for the opportunity to operate," he said. "I don't think the recent incidents were terrorism, but an angry reaction based on the success of the recent law enforcement crackdown in the area."

The proprietor of Kosher World, Yitzie Spalter, has another prospective. He feels that terrorism, defined as a political tool of fear, has been quite successful in this case. Spalter declared that his father, a Holocaust survivor, had all the bad memories brought back by this disturbing event.

"They targeted anti-Semitic graffiti on Jewish locations," Spalter said. "It is a hate crime and not a random act of vandalism."

Rabbi Yoseph Bronstein of Judaic Enterprises was out of town when the incident occurred, and cut his trip short to hurry back to Florida. Bronstein, who has many customers who are not even Jewish, implored the community, "It is a crime to all people. We need to not let them win the war!"

Spokesman for the North Miami Beach Police Warren Hardison revealed that one "youth" had already been arrested near the scene with a spray can of paint in his possession. The suspect, he said, "is under investigation."

"All of these type incidents are treated with very serious consideration," Hardison said. "Whether an occurrence is the result of a teenager wanting to see his handiwork onthe nightly news, or a seriously deranged and dangerous individual or group, you just don't know."

Hardison's department, which is working with the Miami-Dade County Police, is increasing surveillance for all Jewish organizations, schools and businesses in the area. Everyone is on high alert.

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South Florida Shaken By Anti-Semitic Vandalism , Shelley Benveniste